Star Wars’canceledMandalorianspinoff,Rangers of the New Republic, would have changed the structure of the so-called “Mandoverse” completely. AfterThe Mandalorianseason 2, Lucasfilm announced it was working on developing aMandalorianspinoff show calledRangers of the New Republic, which would further explorethe New Republic’s wider galactic issuesand how it was dealing with the Empire’s lasting legacy.
Unfortunately, theRangers of the New Republicshow was canceled soon after. Since then,some of the storylines we believe would have been included inRangers of the New Republichave been introduced – some might even say forced – into otherMandalorian-related projects, includingThe Mandalorianitself andAhsoka. Given what we know about the show, there’s a chance its cancelation will affectStar Wars’upcoming film,The Mandalorian and Grogu, as well.
5Rangers Of The New Republic Would’ve Starred Gina Carano’s Cara Dune
Gina Carano was fired after she created controversial social media posts
The Mandalorian’s Gina Caranowould have taken on the lead role inRangers of the New Republic. Gina Carano first joined theStar Warsuniverse inThe Mandalorianseason 1, introduced as mercenary-for-hire Cara Dune. Dune, forced to become a galactic wayfarer after the destruction of her homeworld, Alderaan, eventually becomes one of Din Djarin’s closest allies. After fighting side-by-side with Din – and later, the late Carl Weathers’ Greef Karga – Cara became a Marshall for the New Republic and a protector of Nevarro inThe Mandalorianseason 2.
It was the perfect set-up for Carano’s return as Cara Dune inRangers of the New Republic, in which she would have presumably led a crew of rangers, protecting and uncovering new dark forces that might harm the New Republic’s peacekeeping efforts. However,afterThe Mandalorianseason 2, Carano was fired by Disney and Lucasfilm due to controversial social media posts– which included election fraud conspiracies and transphobic jokes – leavingRangers of the New Republicto flounder and eventually be canceled altogether.
4It’s Safe To Assume The Pilots Of Adelphi Base Played A Major Role
What role will Captain Carson Teva and Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios have in The Mandalorian franchise?
The MandalorianandAhsokahave introduced viewers to other prominent New Republic characters, most of whom would presumably have played a major role inRangers of the New Republicalongside Cara Dune. (If you’re wondering why Lucasfilm didn’t just simply make one of them the lead ofRangers of the New Republic, you’re not alone).The pilots of Adelphi Base, led by Captain Carson Teva, would almost certainly have influenced the show, includingStar Wars Rebelsmainstay Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios, introduced in live-action for the first time inThe Mandalorianseason 3.
Though Zeb hasn’t been seen since his brief cameo inThe Mandalorianseason 3,Carson Teva had a minor role inAhsokainstead. He was one of the few who sided with New Republic General Hera Syndulla when she tried to convince the New Republic’s leadership of the threat of Thrawn’s return and the resurgence of the Imperial Remnant. The council, of course, was predictably unhelpful.
If, hypothetically speaking,Rangers of the New Republichad been set somewhere betweenThe Mandalorianseason 3 andAhsokaseason 1, we’d probably have seen more of Carson’s role within the New Republic and his relationship with Hera Syndulla. It might have made the New Republic scenes inAhsokafeel more cohesive. More interesting, even.
3The Mandalorian Episode “The Spies” Feels Like A Massive Clue
It’s one of The Mandalorian season 3’s most controversial episodes
WhenRangers of the New Republicwas canceled, other projects in theMandaloriansub-franchise were forced to take on some of its planned storylines.The Mandalorianseason 3, episode 3, “Chapter 19: The Convert,” is almost certainly a result ofRangers’cancelation. The episode pivots away from Din Djarin, Grogu, and Bo-Katan Kryze’s stories entirely and instead shifts to the New Republic’s troubles on Coruscant.
While it does re-introduce two formerMandaloriancharacters – Imperial Remnant officer and Moff Gideon loyal Elia Kane and Imperial scientist Dr. Penn Pershing – this episode feels completely out of place withinThe Mandalorianseason 3. Kane and Pershing have been placed into a New Republic rehabilitation program, but Kane has a secret up her sleeve. She’s still loyal to Gideon and will do whatever she can to sabotage Pershing’s credibility and his scientific research.
If you look at the episode as a completely standalone story, it’s a genuinely compelling piece of television.WithinThe Mandalorianseason 3, though, it sticks out like a sore thumb, making it all the more plausible that this exact story was originally meant to be included inRangers of the New Republic. Now that Gideon is supposedly dead, as seen inThe Mandalorianseason 3 finale, it remains to be seen what Elia Kane will do next – and where.
2Katy M. O’Brian’s Elia Kane Would’ve Been A Great Villain
The perfect link between The Mandalorian and Rangers of the New Republic
In all honesty, I think it’s a shame that Katy M. O’Brian’s Elia Kane was shoved, rather unceremoniously, into a one-off story inThe Mandalorian. Elia Kane would have been a fantastic villain inRangers of the New Republic. Her connection to Moff Gideon would have made for the perfect bridge betweenRangersandThe Mandalorian, but it’s more than that, too.
Kane was genuinely terrifying and electrifying in thatMandalorianepisode. She lured Pershing in and wrung him out to dry when he was done being useful to her. The way she looked when he was being put through the mind-flayer was harrowing. Now that she’s got the trust of a few New Republic government officials, there’s no telling what kind of damage she’ll be able to wreak from the inside out.
There’s a chance Kane will be present inThe Mandalorian and Grogu,but whether that movie will give her enough time to shine as a villain is doubtful. After all,The Mandalorian and GroguisStar Wars’big return to the cinema. Is Elia Kane a strong enough villain to carry that weight? Probably not. The film will most likely focus on Thrawn instead.
1The Rangers Of The New Republic Would’ve Been On The Front Lines Against Thrawn
What will happen with Thrawn in The Mandalorian movies and Ahsoka season 2?
Perhaps the worst part ofRangers of the New Republic’s cancelation is the fact that it would have been an important stepping stone in fleshing out the threat ofGrand Admiral Thrawn’s returnbefore the events ofAhsoka,The Mandalorian and Groguand a potentialMandalorianseason 4. As it stands now, the New Republic isn’t taking the threat seriously. Thrawn has returned and hidden himself away on Dathomir, and the rest of the Imperial Remnant simply wait for his orders.
For anyone who hasn’t watchedStar Wars Rebels, it’s hard to understand just how big of a threat Thrawn poses.Rangers of the New Republiccould have fleshed out his tactical prowess, why he was so close to Palpatine, and why the Imperial Shadow Council is so intent on following his lead. Thrawn is cunning and ruthless, but we’ve hardly had a chance to see that in the live-action Mandoverse. How will it feel if or when he shows up inThe Mandalorian and Grogu?
Star Wars' Canceled Mandalorian Spinoff Is Becoming An Even Bigger Problem
The Mandalorian’s canceled spinoff has created a whole host of problems for the New Republic era of the Star Wars timeline. Can anything fix it?
Presumably, if Cara Dune had been leading a crew of Rangers – including Carson Teva and Zeb – they would have followed the Imperial Remnant’s trail. This may have been a great lead-in for Ahsoka’s search for Thrawn, too, and her reunion with Hera Syndulla. Additionally, the brief glimpses of Imperial/Separatist revolt we’ve seen from “ordinary” citizens, like the ones inAhsokaandThe Mandalorianseason 3, would have felt more earned and more sinister. How many people still long for the days of the Empire’s rule? That’s somethingRangerscould have explored in depth.
Rangers of the New Republicis arguably the connective tissue the Mandoverse needed to truly do justice to this era of theStar Warstimeline. After all, the New Republic is in a precarious state – anything could tip the scales of power. Thrawn’s return could change everything, but so far,The MandalorianandAhsokahaven’t had enough time to truly tell the audience why he’s so vital to the Empire andStar Wars’ storytelling.
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